Fort Collins officials on Saturday passed out safety information to southeast city residents, where more positive tests have turned up.

Jul. 27, 2013

Written by

Larimer County leads Colorado in the number of mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile virus, and at least one human infection has been reported here, according to county and state public health officials.

At least one mosquito has tested positive for the virus in 53 groups retrieved from countywide traps, and Fort Collins officials are warning residents that the southeast part of the city is showing more prevalence of the mosquitoes that carry the virus.

Larimer County represents about 30 percent of positive mosquito tests statewide, while Boulder and Mesa counties also are showing a higher prevalence of the infected bugs, according to a report issued Friday by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

There have been two people infected; one in Delta County and another in Larimer County. There’s a high risk of human infection, according to the Larimer County website.

Fort Collins staff on Saturday planned to distribute more than 2,000 door hangers in southeast neighborhoods warning people to protect themselves against mosquitoes and to sign up for the city’s email notification system at www.fcgov.com/westnile to be alerted of if and when their areas are sprayed. People without Internet access can sign up for phone notifications by calling Colorado Mosquito Control at (970) 663-5697 or (970) 962-2583.

The city as of Saturday has not been spraying. Any recommendation to do so would come through the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment and be considered with detailed analysis by a three-person West Nile advisory panel that provides feedback to the city manager, according to a city news release.